Splice for poles for scaffolding



March 4, 1930. F. KINGSTON 1,749,637

SPLICE FOR POLES FOR SCAFFOLDING Filed Feb. 27, 1928 Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRA NK G. KINGSTON, OF WEST SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BUILD- ERS PATENT SCAFFOLDING COMPANY, OF WEST SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A PARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF FE-ANK G. KINGSTON, A. R. KINGSTON, C. C. PIMM,

AND MABEL G. KITCHEN SPLICE FOR POLES FOR SCAFFOLDING Application filed February 27,1928. Serial No. 257,518.

r1 of necessity are of lengths that have to be fit) 1 placed end to end to reach to the desired height. The joining or splicing of adjacent end portions is a matter of vital importance for the stability and safety of the scaffolding.

. .1 It is also of great practical importance to be able to reduce cost and labor and time in the erection of and taking down the scaifolding to theminimum andye't without any sacrifice of stability and strength. In making my invention I have had all these considerations in mind and in the light of extended practical experience in the building art, and the object of my invention has been to provide pole splice means that will achieve to the utmost the requirements named.

My invention consists in whatever is described by or is included within the terms or scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings I illustrate several eminay be employed and toillustrate the scope of my invention in its broadest aspect. In the drawings: *Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a splice having aconstruction that achieves the'object of my invention in what I now consider its bestfor'm; q I

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention 5 Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively, detail views in perspective of other constructions that may be followed; I

IFigxG is a detail view in perspective of a different construction of splice.

Fig.7 is a detailview: in section showing the swiveled connection-between the screw and the plate or shoe of the device shown in isj I Figsfi8i'and Qare, respectively, horizontal ections through the splices shown in Figs. 4and5. V

T First describing briefly what is shown in the drawings, Fig'sL 1P5' it will be I found that my bodiments of my invention both for the purpose of dlscloslng variou'sconstructlons that from building to building and even from invention is achieved in a structure that comprises opposite and preferably similar or substantially similar pole engaging shoes each of channel shape in cross section and two similar clamps spaced apart vertically, each comprising what may be termed a nut member which is connected with one of the shoes and whichhas a horizontal threaded hole through it and a screw of crank-form engaging the threaded hole in the nut and adapted to impinge or bear at its inner end against the outer side of the other shoe'and thus force the two shoes towards one another and against the opposite sides of the pole ends inserted between the shoes, and all of the members of the splice are permanently assembled so that there are no loose detachable parts apt to become lost or misplaced and requiring special care on the part of the workmen, these considerations being of importance for several reasons. One is that no skilled labor is required for the application and removal of the splices. Another is the minimum of time is required for the application and removal of the splice. Yet another reason is that the staging or scaffolding is transported or moved 1 and 2, there are two similar, straight shoes,

10, each of channel-shape incross section readily. made of sheet metal of suflicient gauge togive requisite strength, which near their ends are permanently joined but slidably joined so that they may be moved towards and from one another for clamping and unclamping purposes and yet never completely separated, they being thus joined by a substantially U-shape strap 11, which is suitably secured to one of the shoes,and the legs of which pass through vertical slots,

' 12, respectively, in a rectangularmetal'plate,

13, fastened to the outer 'side of the other shoe and connecting the ends of: said legs outsaid legs and are upset or riveted upon the outside.

The manner ofusingthe-clamp shown in Figs-1' and 21s very simple. The shoes are slipped over the upper end portion of a standing pole about half way and by the action of the screw of the'lower clamp, it

is held in place andthen the lower end of. the next pole is inserted between the shoes until'itrests upon the top ofthe; lower pole and thenall is made secure by the screw clamps.v The contiguous ends of thecl-amped poles v need have no special configuration whatever and :as they are rigidly and firmly heldzby the clamps there is no necessity for using nails;

Referring .to the embodiment 20f my. i nvention shown in Fig. 3-, itris similar in all respects to what is shown in Figs. 1 and'2, eX- ceptingone .ofwthe shoesis made .intwo sections, bywhat in effect is a horizontal division sothatthe lower clampis: attached to a lower section, 16, and .the: .upperclamp :to an upper shoesection, 17, the two sections overlapping. one. another. .Byi this sectional. construction enough flexibility or adaptability is given the clamp so thatin the eventv that adjoining. portions of poles are of dilferent size or area incrosssection the splice may conformthereto andthe job of inserting the lower end of an upper pole may be facilitated by swinging-outward theupper section so as toincrease the size of the space between the shoes; Preferably. inorder. to make up or compensate forthe weakening 'eifect ofmaking the shoe in sections, abolt. or bolts, 18, are providedto connect the sections where theyuoverlap sothat while loosenediup for assembly purposes the two sectionsnnay be rigidly tied: or held together. where they overlap afterthe poles and clamps arev assembled; or put together and ath-us the splice given requisite strength to resist lateral strains.

While the strap, 11, 'andztheplate, 13, may be 5 rivetedxto .the respective shoes yet-l preferias :being a. less expensive construction to attach; them to. their respective; shoes; by; a pairsofi upperiandrlowerx tongues-,-.=19-; struck or punched out of the metal of theishoean-d foldedor. bentudownover the adjacent.-:.edge

of thestrap or plate; Preferably;initheicase of the plate, each tongue-isfolded;.into;a

notch, .20, in the edge of the plate: to, add; to

the rigidity OftllG-fiOIlHGCZblOH; In -eacho'ffiFigs: 4 and .5e'embodimentsuof my invention are: illustrated]!v by? which the COHIIGClFliOHA- between: opposite shoes: is obtainedi without-' the employmentvof separate straps, but as shown in Fig. 4 one shoe is provided with integral legs, 21, that project from opposite edges of the side flanges which pass through verticalcslots 22, in the; comp anion. shoe and the clamp screw, 16,.passes through a threaded hole in a bar, 23, similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and similarly secured to thelegs. As shown in Fig. 5, the member, 24, with the threaded holefor the' clamp screw, may be integralwvith oneof the legs, 25, and to provide sufficient thickness-when the gauge ofthe metal is inadequate, the nut member may be formed by folded or doubled over. portions, or anutmay be placed between the overlaps which would be less expensive than tapping-the: holes in the overlaps:

In each caseshowninEigs. 4, 5, 8 and 9 the screw-engaged shoe isshown-indotted lines inFigs. 4' and 5 and in full-linesin. Figs. 8 and-9, and its web is slottedtto pass over the legs, 21, and 25, as the case may be, as shown, and such shoe ineach caseis inside thebar, 2301'24; g I

As shownin Fig 6, instead of two similar. shoes slidably connected bytheclamps, a: one piece flat-sided sleeve, 26, may beemploy.ed .which fits over adjoining; end portions ofpolel'engths andwithin it is an oblongplate or shoe, 27, swive-lednear top and bottom-to the inner endsof' crank screws, 28,

which engage threaded openings in'the adjacent. wall of; the sleeve and thus clamping pressure may beexerted onopposite-sides of the inserted poles. The swiveled-connections between the screwsand the ;clamp plate, 27," prevent a separation andalsoprovide means for the positive Withdrawal of the clamp, 27. The swiveled, connection isshown best in Fig: 7, being merely acollar onthe-screw on both sides: of; the plate, 27.

What I claimis 1'. A polesplice;comprising in a permanently' assembled unit oppositely acting members adapted to engage oppositesides of polesections placed between them and separate actuating. devices-spaced. apart verticallytocause IeltltlVGIBOVGIDGHt of sa1dmembers towards one another, said actuating devices being: permanentlyassociated with said members and a portion of the latterextending between and joining saiddevices.

2.: A; pole splicecomprisiugin a, permanently assembled unit oppositelyiacting members adapted to engage opposite-sides-.ofspole sections; placed bet-Ween them and separate actuating devices spaced;-apartvertiwlly I to causerelativemmvement; of; said members to- Wards .oneanother, said members: being substantially:.similar: shoes, said actuating de-' y vices being permanently associated with-said niembjersandza: portion of thelat-ter extending between andzjoininggsaididevicess 3. A pole splice comprising oppositeepole engaging: 1 shoes movable towardseandi from one; anotherr; and at plurality of vertically spaced apart clamps having cooperating ,members acting on the respective shoes, said one another and a plurality of vertically spaced apart clamps having cooperating members acting on the respective shoes, consisting of a strap connected with one shoe having a threaded hole and a screw in said hole adapted to act against the other shoe.

5. A pole splice comprising opposite pole engaging shoes movable towards and from one another and means for causing movement towards one another comprising a strap passing about the two shoes horizontally and attached to one of the shoes, a. plate attached to the other shoe having guide means for said strap and a clamp screw engaging a threaded hole in the strap and adapted to impinge against the outer side of said plate.

6. A pole splice comprising opposite pole engaging shoes movable towards and from one another and means for causing movement towards one another comprisng a strap passing about the two shoes horizontally and attached to oneof the shoes, a plate attached to the other shoe having guide means for said strap and a clamp screw engaging a threaded hole in the strap and adapted to impinge against the outer side of said plate and means tosecure the strap and plate to the respective shoes comprising tongues on the shoes overlapping adjacent portions of strap and plate.

7. A pole splice comprising opposite poleengaging shoes, each consisting of a similar channel with side flanges of the two shoes opposite and adapted to overlap the same side of the spliced poles and means permanently holding them in such relative position, including screw means to move them with clamp pressure upon opposite sides of alining pole ends inserted between them.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature.

FRANK G. KINGSTON. 

